Treasures of Turkey take pride of place in the world

Thousands of artifacts have been sent to well over a hundred exhibits in different corners of the globe over the past decade, according to the ministry Turkey’s treasures continue to be seen by millions around the world, with artifacts ranging from ancient Hittite objects to the glories of the Ottoman Empire being exhibited at prestigious museums.

According to information provided by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, since 2003, thousands of artworks have been sent to 125 exhibitions, 54 of which were abroad. The number of exhibitions, displaying the riches of Turkey, was eight in Germany, six in Japan and the United States, five in France and four in Spain.

Israel, Singapore, Qatar, Portugal, Sweden, Russia and China also hosted exhibitions abroad, drawing hundreds of thousands of people.

Nearly 263,000 people visited the exhibition “Turks: A Journey of A Thousand Years, 600-1600,” which was organized at the Royal Academy of Arts in Britain in 2005. The gate of the Cizre Ulu Mosque, Murad III’s Privy Chamber, Uluğ Bey’s drawer, Süleyman the Magnificent’s signature, Fatih Sultan Mehmed’s sword as well as works by master calligrapher Mehmet Siyah Kalem, were displayed for the first time in a foreign country during the exhibition.

Japan hosted the exhibition “Treasures of the Topkapı Palace – Magnificent Ottoman” in 2007.
In 2008, the “Beyond Babylon: Art, Trade and Diplomacy in the 2nd Millennium B.C.” exhibition was opened in the U.S., featuring Turkey’s role as a bridge between the East and the West. The exhibition displayed works by 15 countries. From Turkey there were 122 works such as god figures, ivory cups, vases...